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About the course

Every aspect of the programme is aimed at developing you as a Professional. This course aims to develop your pedagogical skills and knowledge in all aspects of the relevant curriculum, ensuring you have the very best start on your journey to becoming an outstanding teacher. Your studies will consider all aspects of teaching including: educational theory, behaviour management, assessment, pedagogy, pastoral care and a host of other areas specific to your teaching phase and discipline.

The programme aims to develop your skills progressively over the year. The training starts with observations of expert teachers over the first half term, progressing to you taking greater and more responsibility for classes as your confidence develops. Over the three terms you will go from observing lessons, to leading your own classes, guided and supported at every stage as you develop your skills. By the summer term you will be delivering up to 80% of an NQT's timetable fully prepared for your first job!

You will have two contrasting school placements during your training year. Each trainee teacher will have their own experienced classroom practitioner within both schools, who will be assigned as their individual mentor. A Professional Tutor responsible for school based pedagogical training will be based in all partnership schools. Central training will take place at Sacred Heart and at Newcastle University both of which provide an extremely high standard of facilities, including resources and IT provision. Each trainee will also be assigned a centrally based SCITT Tutor who will visit them in their school setting on a half termly basis and assess their progress.

How school placements work

You will spend the majority of your training year in one school placement. Here you will have the opportunity to establish yourself as part of the team within the department and the school, as well as building rapport with the students as you build up a teaching timetable. You will be supported in organising a short second school placement at another school, ensuring that the mentoring will be of equal quality.

You will begin by observing lessons, supporting the classroom teacher and you will slowly build up a teaching timetable, with free periods for reflective practise and feedback.

Financial support

Requirements

Qualifications

You should have a UK university awarded degree or equivalent qualification. Please note, where there is high demand for a course we reserve the right to consider a 2:1 as the minimum degree class.

It is a condition of all ITT programmes that applicants have a minimum GCSE grade C in English, Mathematics and Science.

Other requirements

Pass the professional skills tests.

Whilst we would not wish to be prescriptive in the amount of experience an applicant must have spent in schools before applying, no application will be accepted where no recent, relevant experience has been gained. As a guide, 10 school 'days' may be taken as sufficient.

About the training provider

St Thomas More Catholic School has recently been judged as outstanding in all areas. The school was one of the first in England to be designated a Teaching School by the National College of Teaching and Leadership.

Our Teaching School partnership consists of a number of primary and secondary schools in the Newcastle and Gateshead area.

Each school has extensive experience of working with student teachers, and can provide excellent school placement opportunities. All schools have exceptionally good student behaviour and outstanding practice in Teaching and Learning.

We can offer you an exciting opportunity to train as a teacher, to gain valuable knowledge, skills and develop professional attributes in an outstanding school.

About the accredited provider

Sacred Heart Newcastle SCITT (SHNS) is a partnership of over 20 Primary and Secondary schools who are passionate about recruiting, developing and employing the very best graduates. The unique, bespoke programme blends the best of both worlds; on the job training and academic study.

As a trainee you will train and teach in two contrasting schools in the partnership. As a national course requirement, this will provide you with breadth and depth of experience and enhance your employability. You have the opportunity to see how teachers build relationships with new classes and share in the successes of students.

Training with disabilities and other needs

Should any applicants have any disabilities or additional needs, please contact hr@stthomasmore.org.uk so that we can make any accessibility arrangements as each applicant and member of staff is considered on a case-by-case basis.